Burnham Oral Surgery

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Denver CO

(303) 451 - 6767

After Tooth Extractions

Irrigating After Surgery (Lower tooth sockets only)

  • Start using the syringe 3 days after surgery.
  • This should be done after snacks and meals (at least 3 times a day)
  • Fill the syringe up with warm tap water.
  • Pull your cheek back with your finger and look into a mirror and get a good look at the lower sockets.
  • Place the syringe tip into the socket (about 1/4 inch) and depress the back of the syringe fairly quickly to deliver the water into the sockets.  This provides a nice stream of water that will flush out debris in the socket.
  • Repeat irrigation until the sockets rinse clean (usually 2 or 3 times in the beginning).
  • Irrigate each day until the sockets no longer trap food (they have become self-cleansing) or until the socket closed up (this can range from a week to a month or so).